1970 Mercedes 300 SEL – Project Profile

Owning a Mercedes 300 SEL would be an envious thing. Owning a racecar would be arguably even better. So what if we told you that you could have both? Yep, this week’s Project Profile comes in the form of a 1970 Mercedes 300 SEL racecar. Well, it will be a racecar once it’s finished. At the moment it needs a little, how shall we say, finishing off, but we’ll get to that – we’re still fantasising about ragging this executive barge around Brands Hatch. It’s available via the Car & Classic auction platform too, which means not only is there a professional write-up and a ton of photos but there is also the opportunity for a bit of a bargain and if you’re not chucking in a cheeky bid by the time you’ve finished reading this then we’ll be very surprised.

What is it?

The 300 SEL, or W109, needs little introduction. Debuting in ’65 it was Mercedes’ flagship model. Designed by Paul Bracq it was a step in the sleeker direction by the German firm and marked a bit of a departure from its earlier models. The fins of cars gone by were replaced with a lower, cleaner aesthetic. Refined and powerful enough whatever engine was optioned (various six and eight-cylinder motors were available) the 300 SEL was and still is a truly capable car.

It may not be everyone’s first choice when it comes to a track weapon but the concept of a race-prepped 300 SEL had already been well and truly proven way back in 1971 when a fledgling AMG breathed on a production model and subsequently entered it into the 24 Hours of Spa. History was made that day when the car, nicknamed the ‘Red Pig’, not only won its class but finished second overall too. No mean feat in a car typically associated with wafting rather than whizzing and it helped AMG cement itself as a serious player in the tuning world.

The car we have available here, it would seem, is destined for similar glory. Imported from America with the intention of turning it into a Red Pig replica racecar it is fitted with a full roll cage and the larger 6.3-litre V8. A perfect candidate then, but what is required to transform this particular 300 SEL into a race-winning hog?

Why is it a project?

Well, it hasn’t run in a while, which is generally pretty prohibitive as far as scooping up silverware goes. It’s also pretty dowdy looking, including some corrosion to the arches. It has been partially stripped, however, which saves you time and effort and everything required is included in the sale apparently. Much of the interior trim has been removed too, but again it saves you a job and everything except the seats and carpets will come with the car. Carpets aren’t necessary anyway and a proper race seat with harness will be required so it’s no big deal, unless you plan on restoring the car to original spec, which, while perfectly acceptable, wouldn’t be the route we would take.

Five things to look for:

1) Engine

The first port of call would be to assess the condition of the 6.3-litre V8. It’s a hardy unit but does require maintenance. On top of all of the usual checks make sure the timing chain has been replaced regularly (every 50,000 miles generally speaking) as they can be prone to stretching, causing damage to the valve train so listen for rattles from the chain and tensioner. If it has been sitting for a while make sure all of the fuel lines and other degradable items are not completely shot.

2) Chassis and body

If you do choose to go full rouge pork with this car then you’ll want to strip and repaint it in the classic AMG livery but it’s still worth checking the chassis and body for any extensive damage or rust. We know the arches are affected but has that corrosion spread? It’s no good having a fire-breathing V8 if it’s sitting in a rotten chassis. Have a chat with the seller and make sure all of the stripped exterior parts do in fact come with the car.

3) Suspension

We’re assuming that the original self-levelling air suspension is still present, in which case you’re probably going to want to upgrade this to a more race-inspired setup, just like they did in ’71. If not then you’ll need to ensure that it doesn’t leak, causing the suspension to sag. It’s a well-made system but it’s a fairly complicated affair and can be costly to rebuild.

4) Interior and roll cage

The interior is pretty much non-existent because racecar but with the exception of the carpets and seats it hasn’t all been chucked in the skip. It’s going to be easier and cheaper to continue down the track car route and as mentioned earlier the installation of a bucket seat and racing harness would be required. The car does have a full roll cage fitted but has it been done professionally and is there any paperwork to back this up?

5) Paperwork

If this 300 SEL does indeed end up being a racing car then it won’t necessarily need to be road-registered, but the car does come with its NOVA certificate should you wish to do so. With regards to any service history it would be pertinent to know how well the car has been maintained which will help you assess the condition of the engine and other mechanical parts, all of which will need to be in tip top shape if you’re thinking of entering the thing into competition.

What should you do with it?

With the ‘Red Pig’ seed well and truly planted it’s difficult not to imagine this particular Mercedes 300 SEL tearing it up, bumper to bumper at the track. Get the V8 up to scratch, manual swap the gearbox and fit some uprated suspension and brakes. Flare the arches, paint it red, sticker it up and then go racing. It would be a fitting tribute to Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher’s sensational underdog racer that comprehensively put the competition in its place. And that place was in the 300’s rear view mirror.